Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-03-10

The Before Breakfast Fiend
Edna Miller Shelrake's advice, as given
IN Good Housekeeping, on the subject of
exercising the Observation-Disclosures fiend,"
viii be appreciated by most housekeepers.
and difficult as the early breakfast may
be, We think it must be admitted as worth
trying for, because of its good influence
on these troublesome spirits:
Family jars and discords, hasty words
and actions, hard uncharitable feelings,
how, many | wonder, terminate before
breakfast? Indeed, one would not be far
short of the mark, in my opinion to say
that one-half the divorce cases in the
courts had never appeared there, had tho
parties been in the habit of breakfasting
one-half hour earlier. One can, with com
parative equanimity, wait for the sound
of dinner bell or gong. What matter
il supper is late? But TO wait for ones
breakfast-never! a feeling OF resentful
outrageousness and Of being used bad in
general takes possession of the average
human creature at this crisis. Bitterness
fills the soul, and one is led to behave in
manner that is astonishing after break
fast.
| DO not attempt an xplanation OF this
phenomenon, nor 30 reason why an empty
stomach is more than an empty stomach;
l call upon your experience to corroborate
my statement. 1t is my private but firm
belief that the great enemy OF mankind
sends forth the willest OF his emissaries
thus early IN the morning, when man. and
woman; too, is in q comatose state, slyly
creep into their hearts before they are
sufficiently vide awake to resist their
attacks.
Once let one of these before-breakfast
tiends find lodging. and, my word for
it, he will prove a good tenant, ror will
| he be outed the day. Some people will
! facetiousiy tell you, in the event OF your
| possessing this small ledger, that you got
up on the wrong side, or some such non
sense. As a proof that 1t isa little devi'
in you, let me assert that you invariably
| get vexed, and your ill-humor is increased
tenfold by such harmless remarks.
No one escapes these small imps mot
even the children. Somtimes l think
that seeing the iunocents so helpless and
UNDERSTANDING, they enter and operate
with hilarious glee upon their smull souls
/ (Which is certainly taking unfair adgant-
age), insomuch as | have seen most
charming, cooling, placid, altogether de-
| liphtful infant transformed into squat
ing, bawling, dont-touchme brat!
Therefore. ia view Of these conscious
facts, it behooves Us who hold the reins
of the household charriot-or cart as the
case may be-iu our hands, to shorten
the existence of these before breakfast
fends by having early breakfast. OF
course do not mean 20 say that you
should promptly tinkle your bell at 4, o
6, Z, or O'Clock. The hour at which the
meal is served is subservient to the
pleasure and business of your household
but whatever the hour at which your
household rise, Gee to it that the morning
meal is served soon after. No matter
whether your husband goes to shop, office
or store; whether he breaches, doctors,
edits. the time before breakfast Is 80
much time wasted. He can settle to moth
ing, he fumes: the man frets TO be off;
he champs he saws the bit until he Is OIL
/ Go leisurelv about your dinner; daily, If
you please, about your supper do any
thing, bat as you value your household
peace, get breakfast! and be quick about
it, too!
First. prepare as far as possible over
night. The fire can be laid, the coffee
ground the table can be set, with mos
quito covering thrown over, if you think
the first insufficient protection. Have
the tea kettle emptied the night previous.
If cold potatoes are TO be cooked they
should be peeled. Have everything laid
ready to your hand. This presupposes
that the mistress is maid also. If you
have servants the same tactics can be
pursued Now, to be in hurry does not
mean careless, slovenly, toieiet. Heav-
en- forbid! Make yourself as neat and
pretty in as short a time as possible, then
proceed about your business with cheer
/ alactrity.
Also remember this before b4cekfast
| fend is alert. and on the watch. The
fire won't burnt He draws near, expect
ant. Don't get excited-look him square
in the face, address him thus; "Ah! there
YOU arel l know you, you see! Trying
/ to put me in temper about poor
senseless fire, are you: But you won't III
/ Law these kindlings so ard so, III
| strike another match there! see how
BEAUTIFULLY she burnsw Meet him in this
way and he will retreat ANONYMOUSLY
/ probably leave the house altogether. But
| If he should still hang around and event
ually find an ingress into some member
1 of the family, don't stop to reason, argue
or persuade; all viii be so much good
breath thrown away; but hurry, hurry,
hurry!